“I’ll get you – and me – more,” Robinton said. He slipped back into the camp and helped himself to a skin, as well as a saddlebag full of travel meat roll. Everyone was so busy trying to air their own hindsight wisdom that no one noticed him sneaking in and out.
“Here—’ And he stopped, seeing Nip propped against a tree fast asleep.
He sat down, hoping the courageous little man would rouse to tell him what he had in mind. The gleam in Nip’s eyes had suggested that his devious mind had already thought of several interesting ways to harass Fax.
Robinton was almost half-asleep himself when he heard his name called. So he left the wine-skin and the full bag of food and retraced his steps. CHAPTER NINETEEN
Some good did come of that disagreeable confrontation with Fax.
MasterSmith Fandarel withdrew all Masters from the “seven holds’. Other CraftMasters followed that example. Fax had been too busy congratulating himself over the acquisition of Ruatha Hold to realize what was happening. Now he complained bitterly, offering inducements to the Masters to return. Nor did he dare retaliate against those journeymen who remained: as many as could do so had slipped away before he knew they had left. Even the MasterMiner at Crom had removed himself and set up a new headquarters for his Craft in one of the SmithHalls at Telgar. Despite substantial rewards, Master Idarolan, who had succeeded Gostol as MasterFishman, refused to lay any keels for Fax to replace the ships which had so mysteriously disappeared from the High Reaches fishing villages. All that were left were small sloops or ketches, which were restricted in cargo space or range.
The only Hall that did not withdraw skilled assistance was the Healer Hall. MasterHealer Oldive quietly stated that such a measure went against the very purpose and grain of his Craft. He was respected for it, as were those of his Hall who remained to succour the ill and injured. And there were many of them.
“Fax hadn’t counted on the loss of Masters,” Robinton said, thoroughly pleased. Of course, harpers had long since been driven away or hunted down by Fax. Indeed, it had become almost a crime, Nip said, to admit to owning an instrument, much less playing or singing.
“The man is determined to make life as miserable as possible.
He’s succeeding rather well – a fact which will eventually go against him.”
“We hope,” Robinton remarked drily.
“Oh, wait and see,” Nip said with unusual optimism.
“I’m waiting.”
While the MasterHarper waited over the next five turns, he busied himself improving all within his Hall. He asked Groghe for the best fighter of his guard and had the man teach classes, from apprentice level on up, in self-defence and – though this did not sit well with the more self-confident young students – when to run and hide and how to do that, leaving the least evidence of escape. To Robinton’s surprise, Sebell turned out to be almost ferocious in the drills: only Saltor, the head guard, or his burly assistant, Emfor, would partner him.
“Sebell’s amazing,” Robinton remarked to Saltor when Sebell had pinned Emfor to the mat in three moves.
Saltor regarded him with amusement. “It’s you he’s determined to defend, Master Robinton. Keep him at your side and you’ll never need to fear.”
“Not that I can keep him from my side,” Robinton replied, wondering how he had managed to generate such devotion in the lad, kin though he was.
“That goes for every one of “em, you know,” Saltor continued, and Robinton felt decidedly uncomfortable. “Just as well, you ask me,” the guard added, then walked off to correct a wrestling hold.
Sebell’s prowess was by no means limited to such physical skills. Like his adored Master Robinton, he soaked up sufficient expertise and abilities to gain his journeyman’s rank almost as quickly as his mentor had. Robinton reluctantly sent him for a turn’s teaching in Igen Hold, then found out just how much he had come to rely on the lad and brought him back. As if Sebell could sense where Robinton needed help, the young journeyman assumed many duties so adroitly that both Masters and the older journeymen could not deny the MasterHarper his invaluable assistant.